Recap: Sbäi helps Angers snap winless run in Nantes
Angers scored the match's only goal early in the second half, winning for the first time in four Ligue 1 McDonald's matches to pull 15 points clear of their rivals. Catch up on the latest from the Beaujoire with our recap.
A tightly contested first half
Despite FC Nantes entering this home derby match against Angers within touching distance of safety -- or at least the relegation playoff place -- this first match of Saturday had something of an air of desperation about it, off the back of Les Canaris' frustrating last-minute loss to Lille last weekend. As for Angers, who look all but assured of safety, while they would have to do without the injured Prosper Peter in attack, they would be good value to bounce back from their loss to Monaco last weekend.
In the match's early going, Angers had plenty of possession, but the first chance came to the hosts on the counter, with Hervé Koffi being quick off his line to take the ball off the feat of Ignatius Ganago (20'). Angers would respond through Goduine Koyalipou a minute later, forcing a diving save from Anthony Lopes. Koyalipou's effort would prove to be the only one on target for either side in the first half, and the first half ended scoreless.
⏱️ 52’
AMINE SBAÏ QUI REPREND VICTORIEUSEMENT CE BALLON POUR OUVRIR LE SCORE !!!! 🔥#FCNSCO | [0⃣ - 1⃣] pic.twitter.com/h3YGb54P74— Angers SCO (@AngersSCO) March 7, 2026
Sbäi with the breakthrough
Into the second half, Angers were eager to make their possession tell, and it wouldn't be long before that was the case. On a corner taken from the left, Nantes failed to clear, and Amine Sbäi, who was starting in place of Peter, fired in a lovely shot on the turn, finding the bottom corner to beat Lopes (52'). Sbäi would follow his goal with another pair of chances before the hour, but Lopes would hold firm to keep the match at 1-0. Both sides made changes in an effort to turn the tide, but for the next twenty minutes, clear chances were lacking for either side.
In the match's final ten minutes, Nantes pushed desperately for an equalizer, but were denied by Koffi, the Angers keeper continuing as he has done all season to be one of the standouts for Le SCO. A free kick from Dehmaine Tabibou (82') was the most dangerous of these chances, but the Burkina Faso international also had to be sharp to keep out a deflected effort by Mostafa Mohammed. Nantes would have one more chance on the counter in added time, but Matthis Abline would blaze his effort over the bar. In the end, though, the visitors had held on for a deserved win, ahead of next week's home match against Nice. As for Nantes, they'll be nervously watching Auxerre's match against Strasbourg tonight, before returning to action against the Alsatians in a fortnight's time.
